Stunning!!

This fabulous cardigan is a new design from Wool & Pine. My head is swimming with colour combinations. The pattern is called the Hearthside Cardigan and you can purchase it on Ravelry.

Hearthside Cardigan is all about plush texture, scrappy color, and the kind of comfort that feels like home. Imagine curling up with your comfort show wrapped in a squishy brioche hug, with enough structure from the thoughtful shoulder and neckline shaping so you can throw it on for coffee runs too.

Worked in basic two color brioche with two strands of fingering weight yarn held together for both Foreground (FG) and Background (BG) colors, the marled effect comes from changing one strand at a time so colors blend and flow softly. Speckles and small leftovers shine here, creating gentle shifts and layered depth.

A deep marled garter hem and cuffs anchor the design, and the oversized garter shawl collar brings just the right amount of structure. We also include a video guide to help you choose and blend colors for smooth transitions and your own custom palette.

This is a cardigan you will want to live in.

Take a look at all the finished projects on Ravelry. Stunning!!! 

I wanted to go downstairs to play with my fingering odd balls but I stopped myself. It might happen after dinner.🥳

Who asked for the snow? Yuck. It was a great day to be in the house. I’m almost ready to join the last ball on Jaunty. Pictures tomorrow. 

Twig Shawl

This is the Twig Shawl from TinCanKnits. You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry.

The pattern calls for DK yarn with a tension of 20 stitches = 4”. In my mind you can use a DK weight yarn or go to a worsted weight yarn on a 4.5mm needle. It might make the shawl slightly larger but that isn’t a bad thing. Here are some yarn choices. Please do a swatch before you start. TinCanKnits used a 3.5mm needle and 3.75mm needle. To get the tension I think you will need at least a 3.75mm and 4mm needle.

DK

• Arranmore Light
• Estelle Superwash Merino DK
• Rowan Felted Tweed (slightly thinner but it would work)
• The new Donegal Twists from Baa Ram Ewe

Worsted Weight

• Rios
• Cascade 220 Superwash Merino

I was tired this afternoon and couldn’t bring myself to stock shelves. Instead I pulled out a ball of Kathmandu Fingering (colour 15) and some Lykke Flight needles. This is Joji’s MKAL. I wanted to see how the shawl would look in a solid colour. I also wanted to try the Flight needles. 

The points of the needles are extremely sharp. For most people that isn’t a bad thing. I know Wannietta would love these needles. It’s not the best for me - I push with my finger and stab myself. I can say that the needles are really nice to knit with. They slide nicely. I don’t have enough knit to go over the join yet. I’ll let you know tomorrow.

The Price is Right is on so I’m moving to my knitting chair.

Easy Scarf

Today was all about Starke 6. Lots of knitters buying to knit scarves for Christmas gifts. This is a super easy scarf that Beth designed. You need 2 balls of Starke 6 - 1 ball each of 2 very different colours.

The above sample was knit with 2095 and 2136. Below we used 2266 and 2136. 

Here is a link to Starke 6. If you are ordering the yarn online please leave a note and we will include the pattern for you.

This is the same scarf knit in Crazy Zauberball. 

The scarf above is 1701 and 1511. The scarf below is 1702 and 2099.

You can find Zauberball here. If you are ordering the yarn and want to make the scarf please leave a note in the order so I can include the pattern.

I’ve made up a few combinations for the scarf here. 

Today I put together many kits for Gnandad’s Grand Adventure.

We have kits online (and in the store). I can’t stop. 

Here is a bit of advice from Sarah

C1 - Pick your favourite of the 4 colours. I’m using green.

C2 - Make sure C2 contrasts with C1 if viewed through a black and white filter. This is my light grey.

C3 - This is the colour for the hands/nose/beard/hair role, but it may also have other

purposes. This is my white. If using a darker colour, make sure there’s a contrast with C2 as well.

C4 - I suggest going with a darker colour here. I’m using charcoal.

This gnome is designed for solid/semi-solid colours. Subtle speckles will also work, but avoid variegated

Ball four has been joined. 

If you are working on Joji’s MKAL she just released clue #2.

Gnandad’s Adventure

It’s time to start planning for Sarah Schira’s next mystery gnome KAL. You can prepurchase the pattern for Gnandad’s Adventure on Ravelry.

Join us for 21 days of small, satisfying knitting, of fun, of surprises and stories! The Grand Adventure beckons all of us this December. 40% off until Nov 17 with the code “GoGnandad”

Gnandad set out on a long adventure around the gnome world last Gnomevember. Will he make it home in time for Longest Gnight? And who are these friends he wrote home to say he invited? Join Gnana and the rest of the family as they get ready to welcome him home.

Some days, you’ll open the update to find a clue to knit. Other days will bring part of our charming story, special treats, or a recipe or two for traditional gnomish delights.

Come to the PreKnitalong Chat for questions and planning. 

KEY DATES
Nov 3 - Gnandad’s Grand Adventure pattern goes on presale AND yarn dyers around the world offer yarn kits. The preknitalong info PDF contains colour tips and other tidbits I think you’ll find helpful. 
Dec 1-21 - daily updates and fun surprises 
Jan 1 - knitalong ends, prize thread closes 
Jan 6 - prizes announced

You need 4 mini skeins of fingering weight yarn. Emma has kits and we are working on getting them in time for the cast on. I’ll have more details later this week.

You can also pick your own colours as well. We have lots of mini skeins from Emma’s. I need to go through them this week because I think we have more in stock than the website shows.

I needed to wind the last two skeins for Jaunty. They were sitting on the coffee table and I went to do something else. When I came back to grab them there was only one on the table. Someone picked up the other one and got into my chair with it. He didn’t hurt the skein. It wasn’t wet or tangled. He just picked it up and carried it with him. Boscoe loves Spincycle.

Tonight’s movie is Stand By Me. I don’t think I’ve watched it since I saw it in the theatre. 

Knitting Police

I’m giving a heads up that at the end of the post I have pictures of Joji’s MKAL so far.

Cosmic Connections by Lisa K. Ross was a MKAL and the finished shawl has been revealed. WOW!!! The shawl is knit in fingering weight yarn.

Pattern purchased on Ravelry

We have kits available for the shawl.

I made it to the decreasing on Jaunty.

On Saturday evening I cast on for Joji’s MKAL. I chose the latest Crazy Beautiful colour from Emma’s. As I was knitting the knitting police showed up at my house. Dad out of nowhere says ‘Hey, that’s a new project. Where is the shawl you were knitting on last night? Shouldn’t you finish something before you start another project?’ I explained that the Joji MKAL just came out and I needed to work on it so I finished the weekly clue. He was sort of okay with the answer. 

This is the colour I chose. Please don’t read any further if you don’t want to see the first clue finished. Joji writes a great pattern and any level of knitter can work the first clue. It didn’t take long to knit the clue - you have lots of time to join and be ready for Clue 2 on Saturday.